Advertising apparatus



Jan. 23, 1934. K. N. Mom

ADVERTISING APPARATUS Original Filed June 9, 1928 Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES ADVERTISING APPARATUS 7 Kenneth N. Moir, Los Angeles, Calif, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Aerial Advertising Company, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Application June 9, 1928, Serial No. 284,030 Renewed April 24, 1933 16 Claims. (01. 40-127),

This invention relates to an aerial advertising device and particularly to means of suspending a sign or the like from a kite, balloon or other aerial vehicle. The aerial advertising device comprising this invention is adapted to be used not only during daylight hours, but may also be used at night. The construction and arrangement of elements embraced by this invention enables a sign to be suspended from an aerial vehicle and maintained in a substantially horizontal reading plane irrespective of changes in wind velocity ordinarily encountered.

Kites, balloons and other aerial vehicles have been used heretofore in carrying banners, signs and other advertising devices and it has also been proposed to raise internally or self illuminated advertisements by means of balloons. Signs raised by means of aerial vehicles have not been widely used, however, because of changes in wind velocity and direction which not only caused entanglement of anchor lines (used in controlling balloons or kites and the like) with signs suspended from the aerial vehicles but also changed the reading level of the signs with respect to the horizontal plane, thereby making the signs unreadable.

This invention has for its object the elimination of all of the difficulties hitherto encountered in the use of aerial advertising devices. An object of this invention is to provide an aerial advertising device which can be easily controlled, will not be materially 'aifected by changes in wind velocity, and which will not be affected by changes in wind direction. I

Another object is to provide and disclose a method and means of suspending signs or other advertising matter from aerial vehicles so that the reading plane of the sign with respect to the horizontal is not materially influenced by changes in wind velocity.

A still further object of this invention is vto provide and disclose means of suspending a sign from an aerial vehicle whereby the plane of the sign is substantially vertical under customarily encountered conditions. An object is to provide a means of suspending an advertising device from an aerial vehicle in such manner as to allow the advertising device to weather-vane easily by reason of changes in wind direction.

Another object of this invention is to disclose and provide a means of suspending and illuminating advertising signs or symbols from aerial vehicles, and thereby extend the usefulness of aerial advertisements into'the night hours.

Other objects, results and functions of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one preferred method of suspending and controlling aerial advertisements. In describing the illustrative example of my invention, reference will be made to the appended drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a balloon and suspended advertising device in a position assumed in the air under normal wind velocity conditions.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the suspended advertising device taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the sign shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 7

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a kite type balloon of any suitable construction and size, adapted to support a suitable advertising device such as the sign illustrated. The balloon may be provided with a suitable expansion and contraction chamber 2, with a tail parachute 3, and a wind stocking 4 adapted to keep the balloon headed to the wind. The balloon may be held captive by means of a suitable net work and guy lines 5 which may be connected with a suitable ring 6. If desired, the ring 6 or other equivalent connection may have a swivel joint provided therein so as to allow the balloon to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane with changes in wind direction. The ring 6 is also connected to an anchor line 7 by means of which the balloon is controlled from a suitable ground connection Windlass or other apparatus, not shown.

Suspended from the balloon and particularly from the ring or other connection 6, is an advertising device such as the sign 8, which as shown may consist of a light netting upon which desired letters, symbols or other advertising matter may be suitably fastened. The'sign 8 may be supported by means of an upper spar 9 to which the netting 8 is attached, the spar 9 being in turn supported by a plurality of guy lines 10, 11 and 12 connected to the connecting means 6. The guy lines 10, 11 and 12 are of different length, for example, the guy line 10 is relatively short and connects directly with the spar 9. The guy line 12 on the other hand is long and is connected to the opposite end of horizontal spar 9. As shown on the drawing, the guy line 11 is of intermediate length and may be connected with the spar 9 by means of a bridle 13 so as to distribute the tension on the guy line 11 uniformly along a large area of the spar 9. If desired, other guy lines may be provided.

The lower portion of the sign 8 is also attached to a horizontal spar '14. The lower portion of the sign 8 is supported not only by the netting from which it is made, but in addition, a cable, rope or other means 15 are used between the upper spar 9 and the lower spar 14 so as to transmit the pull from the control line 16 to" the upper portion of the suspension system. The control line 16 is independent of the anchor line 7 and the lower portion of the control line 16 may be operated by means of a Windlass, winch or other suitable device located on the ground (not shown). Guy lines 1'? and 18 may be connected between the control line 16 and, appropriate points along the bottom spar 14, the guy lines being connected to the control line either at a single point or a plurality of points. As shown in the drawing a short guy line 19 is used to connect a portion of the bottom spar 14 to the guy line 1'7. It will be readily understood that the sign 8 suspended from the balloon or other aerial vehicle which in the above described manner will be permitted to weather-vane with changes in wind direction with that edge of the sign supplied with the rope 15 as an axis. Furthermore,

- in actual usage, the construction shown reduces the possibility of entanglement between the sign 8 and the separate anchor line 7 or between the control line 16 and the anchor line 7. In order to maintain the reading level of the lettering or other advertising matter positioned on the sign 8 inproper relation with the horizontal, I provide means whereby the distance between the anchor line '7 and the edge of the si n 8 may be increased or decreased. It willbe understood that in still weather the balloon 1 will tend to anchor line 7. An increase in wind velocity will materially increase the distance between the edge of the sign 8 and the anchor line and under these conditions, the control line 16 may be utilized in maintaining the reading level of the subject matter on the sign 8 in proper position. As a further protection, I provide a means whereby the angle or distance between the anchor line and the forward edge of the sign 8 may not exceed a certain predetermined amount. One method of accomplishing this, illustrated in the drawing, is by means of a short line 20 connected by suitable means with the guy line 10. The other end of the line 20 is slidably mounted around the anchor line 7 as, for example, by means of a ring or snap p hook through which the anchor line 7 is passed.

If desired, a suitable stop such as a knot 21 in the line 7 may be positioned above the normal position assumed by the free end of the line 20 so that during an increase in wind velocity, the free end of the line 20 will move upwardly along the anchor line '7 until it comes in contact with the stop 21. i V

If desired, that portion of the anchor line 7 subjected to the sliding action of line 20 may be armored or otherwise protected against wear. The fixed end of the line'20 may be connected to the guy line 10 by means of a ring 22 and a shorter line 23 connected thereto and to another portion of thetop spar 9. I

My invention also provides for means to be carried by the aerial advertising apparatus'for illuminating the sign or other advertising device, thereby allowing the advertising device to be used at night. As shown in the drawing, extension poles24 may be provided, said extension poles being attached in any suitable manner to the top or bottom spars 9, and 14, or to both of these" spars. The extension poles 24 may be supported by means of guy lines 25 connected to the outer end of the poles 24. and to the rigging or other portion of the apparatus normally in the plane of the sign 8. The extension poles 24 may be connected together at their outer ends by means of suitable rods 26 and may carry suitable clamps 27, reflectors 28 and illuminating means such as the lamps or filament tubes 29. Electrical energy or current may be supplied to the lamps by means of a suitable cable 30 carried by the anchor line 16 and distributed to the plurality of reflectors and lamps carried by the extenson poles 24.

It will be understood that the above means of illuminating a sign suspended in accordance with my invention is merely illustrative and I am not to be limited to the particular construction or arrangement of parts shown. For example, illuminating means may be mounted either on one side of the sign 8 or on both sides depending upon the subiectmatter and lifting capacity of the balloon or other aerial. vehicle 1.

p The operation of the device will be easily understood from the above description. The balloon carrying the sign or other advertising matter is sent aloft, the anchor line 7 being used almost solely for the regulation of the height to which the balloon is to rise. The control line 16 is used in regulating the reading plane of the sign and only a relatively small tension is exerted by the balloon upon this control line.

The sliding connection 20 between the sign or other advertising device and the anchor .line makes it possible for the sign to weather vane freely about the anchor line with changes in wind direction and also permits the angle between anchor line and guy line 10 to be materially increased with increase in wind velocity without unbalancing the apparatus. This sliding con- 1'15 nection is believed to be of great importance to the successful use of the apparatus under varying conditions. The invention should not be limited, however, to location of the sliding connection at the point shown in the drawing, assimilar results may be obtained by forming a sliding connection (using a, longer line 20) between the sign and the anchor line at say, the end of the bottom spar or between the line 16 and the anchor line.

If desired, a plurality of such sliding connections 12 may be used. A spring of suitable tension, may

be positioned in the sliding line 20, if this is desired.

Electrical supply means may be carried to the sign by means of the control line 16. It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific arrangement andconstruction of the illuminating means shown on the drawing.

In fact, the illuminating means may be removed entirely if this is desired, or illuminating means may be positioned on both sides of the sign.

The exact construction of the illuminating means is not believed to be essential to the invention, as such construction is within the knowledge of the electrical and mechanical arts.

I claim:

1. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, an advertising device suspended from said vehicle by means of guy lines, a separate control line iii-i connected to the lower portion of said advertising device, and means connecting one of said Iii) guy lines with the anchor line.

2. An advertising apparatus comprising aballoon, an anchor line for said balloon, an advertising device suspended from said balloon by means of guy lines, and means connecting a guy line attached to the advertising device with the anchor line, said means being adapted to regulate the distance between said advertising device and said anchor line.

3. An advertising apparatus comprising: an aerial vehicle; an anchor line for said vehicle; an advertising device suspended from said vehicle; a separate control line connected to said advertising device; and means for slidably connecting said advertising device to said anchor line.

4. An advertising apparatus comprising: an aerial vehicle; an anchor line for said vehicle; an advertising device suspended from said ve hicle; a separate control line connected to said advertising device; and means for slidably connecting said advertising device to said anchor line, said means being adapted to regulate the distance between said advertising device and said anchor line.

5. An advertising device comprising: an aerial vehicle; an anchor line for said vehicle; an advertising device suspended from said vehicle; a separate control line connected to the lower portion of said advertising device; and means slidably connecting the upper portion of said advertising device with said anchor line, so as to restrict movement between said advertising device and said anchor line.

6. An advertising apparatus comprising: a balloon; an anchor line for said balloon; an advertising device associated with said balloon; means for suspending said advertising device from said balloon; and means slidably connecting said suspension means with said anchor line, so as to regulate the distance between said advertising device and said anchor line.

'7. An advertising apparatus comprising: a balloon; an anchor line for said balloon; a sign suspended from said balloon by means of guy lines; and means slidably connecting one of said guy lines with said anchor line, said means being adapted to regulate the distance between said sign and said anchor line. p

8. An advertising apparatus comprising: aballoon; an anchor line for said balloon; a sign suspended from said balloon by guy lines connected to the upper portion thereof; a separate control line connected to the lower portion of said sign; and means slidably connecting one of said guy lines with said anchor line, whereby the distance between said sign and said anchor line is automatically regulated.

9. An advertising apparatus comprising: an

aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle; an advertising device suspended from said vehicle by guy lines; and means connecting one of said guy lines with said anchor line for automatically regulating the movement of said advertising device relative to said anchor line.

10. An advertising apparauts comprising: an aerial vehicle; an anchor line for said vehicle; an advertising device associated with said vehicle; suspension means for suspending said advertising device from said vehicle; and means carried by said suspension means and being slidably connected to said anchor line for automatically regulatingthe movement of said advertising device relative to said anchor line.

11. An advertising apparatus comprising: an aerial vehicle; an anchor line for said vehicle; an advertising device associated with said vehicle; suspension means connecting said advertising device with said vehicle; and means slidably connecting said suspension means with said anchor line for automatically regulating the distance between said advertising device and said anchor line.

12. An advertising apparatus comprising: an aerial vehicle; a sign suspended from said vehicle; an anchor line for said vehicle; and means slidably mounting said sign on said anchor line for regulating the distance between them.

13. An advertising apparatus comprising: an 105 aerial vehicle; a sign suspended from said vehicle an anchor line for said vehicle; and means for slidably connecting said sign to said anchor line whereby the distance between them may not exceed a predetermined amount.

14. An advertising apparatus comprising: an aerial vehicle; a sign suspended from said vehicle; an anchor line for said vehicle; a separate control line connected tosaid sign; and means slidably connecting said sign and said anchor line whereby 115 the distance between them may not exceed a predetermined amount.

15. An advertising apparatus comprising: an aerial vehicle; an anchor line connected to said vehicle; a sign suspended from said vehicle; and 120 means connecting said anchor line and said sign, said means being slidable on said anchor line whereby the distance between said sign and said anchor line is automatically regulated.

16. An advertising apparatus comprising: an 125 aerial vehicle; an anchor line connected to said vehicle; a sign; guy means supporting said sign from said anchor line; and means for slidably connecting said sign to said anchor line.

KENNETH N. MOIR. 

